St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-12-29
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
How 1t was Observed i'm st. Johnsbu,

Saturday evening was an ideal
Christmas eve and Sunday an ideal
Christmas day in ST. Johnsbury. The
evening was clear and cold and the
moon put forth its very best effort in
the line of illumination. The lights
that shone from nearly every window
in many of the dwellings in the village
gave evidence of the joyful reunions
and the merry times that the occu-
pants were enjoying. On Sunday the
weather was just right, neither too
cold nor too warm, the sleighing was
excellent and a bright sun smiled down
on this section of the country. This
Christmas gift from the weather bu-
reau should not be forgotten. At all
of the churches the services took on a
Christmas character and all were we'll
attended. If it shall seem to the read
er that esnsunusual amount of space is
given to reports of the days Observ-
ances it must be remembered that
Christmas was the event of the week.
METHODIST CHURCH.
There was Christmas tree at the
Methodist church Saturday evening, a
regular old fashioned Christmas tree
that was loaded to it's topmost branch
es with gifts for young and old. Before
these gifts were distributed, however,
the children of the Sabbath school gave
very pleasant entertainment in the
way of recitatiOns, songs, etc. Then
came the distribution of the gifts, re-
quiring good deal of time as it was
the purpose of the managers that no
member of the school should be forgot
ten. A brief talk by the pastor apprO-
pirate to the hour closed very merry
Christmas eve.
Sunday morning Rev. T. P. Frost
preached Christmas sermon. He de-
parted from the beaten track some
what. In place of talking about the
ordinary observance of Christmas he
took for his theme Goods observance
of Christmas" Gods Christmas gifts
to His son on that first Christmas
morning were a mortal body and a cup
of sorrows; but He was called upon to
leave His heavenly home and assume
mortal body For but a brief season
and the cup of sorrows did not repre-
sent ali that WIS given. The world
was in rebellion. 1t must be conquer
ed either by conquest or treaty. The
Son of Man rejected the treaty offered
by the devil on the mountain when
promised the Kingdoms of the world if
He would worship him. And how has
the conquest progressed Let the his
tory of the world from that first Christ
mas morning tell the story. Some OF
the characteristics of Gods gifts were
then noted. The Christmas gifts from
friend to friend in this world are gen
orally given to those who need them
the least; God gives to those who
| need them the most. We are limited
in our gifts; God gives freely from an
unlimited supply. The worlds gifts
are perishable; Gods gifts never per-
ish, they are eternal. The worlds
gifts seldom bring peace Gods gift is
the gift of peace. In concluding the
speaker said that, after all, this great
gift of God to His son of brief season
of trial and sorrow meant endless Joy
and happiness to those who accept the
gift, and from it all we learn the duty
of loyalty to Christ and to His truth
In the evening the young people gave
Il missionary concert.
SOUTH CHURCH.
Christmas at the South church began
with the regular service Sunday morn
ing, when Rev. Edward Fairbanks
preached from lisa. IS, "For unto US
"a child is born" 1t was sermon spe-
cially adapted to the joyous Christmas
season and to the young. Whatever
brings the old matter of fact world in
to the ideal world of childhood is good
he said. The remarkable fnlfilmen
of Isaiah's prophecy was noted in the
|
born into the world. The question
was asked and considered, Why wal
Christ born as a little child, one of the
reasons given being that lie might be
come acquainted with all our live.
from childhood up. The thought was
emphasized that all who would accep
Christ must do so as little children.
In the evening there was a Christ
mas service, "Tbe manager child" Civ
en- by the children of the Sunday
school assisted by some of the Olde
ones in the solo parts. Over the pull
pit was II beautiful arch of cedar bough
from the center of which was suspend
ed a big Christmas bell that, on Occa
sion, rang out genuine Christmas greet
ings, as the little folks recited thei
verses-and pulled the bell cord. TIL
Christmas carols were nicely rendered
and there were solos by Misses JOSH
Porter, Lula FennO, and Ellen Ely ant
Messrs. Conant and May, all brilliant
ly executed, especially the selection b.
Miss Porter. At the close of the ser
!, vice every member of the Sunday
school received Christmas presen
from the superintendent, Rev. Henri,
Fairbanks. A collection was taken a
the close of the service for the starvin;
} poor of Turkey amounting to S67. A
the morning service the choir sang
, TIE Deum by F. w. Root. Here is TIL
II EVENING SERVICE.
| Christmas Shelly